Advocacy

The High cost of Higher Education

&

The need for bursary/scholarship opportunities for E.C.E Students

TODAY’S AGENDA Introduction to the cause – Why is it a problem?

How this cause impacts our profession & the future of Early Childhood Education – The global connection!

Questions concerning the cause

Our research

The actions taken to gain support for the cause

Who became involved in the cause & what has changed as a result

Video/ Game!

Questions?

Introduction to the ‘Cause’

Our group discovered the following issue was taking place at Centennial College:

Currently Centennial College has very little to no financial support in the form of bursaries/scholarships specifically allocated for

students studying Early Childhood Education.

Why is this a problem?

The problem with the serious lack of financial support for these students is simply that once they have graduated, many

students will not find a large enough salary to supplement the expenses they have expended during their two year

diploma program. This often leads to ‘burnout’ for underpaid E.C.E staff and can even lead to poor quality care for

children.

This serious lack of financial support can also leave student in particular field of study feeling as unappreciated within the

college environment as they often our in society.

Connection to our ProfessionOur philosophy:

Our group came to the simple conclusion that students who have chosen to study early childhood education who

graduate with any debt load or a need to recover financially from their training are less likely to to pursue further studies (degrees, specialized training, etc) and

to truly enjoy the career path they have chosen for themselves.

This is largely due to the fact that the majority of social/community services are underpaid within our

society.

It is job the of the college to motivate individuals who chose such selfless work as the education of young

children with incentives such as bursaries/scholarships (provided by donors of any kind) to prevent cynicism

and doubt within our profession.

The Connection Continued…

How might bursaries/scholarships create a difference for E.C.E Students?

Awards for students enrolled in E.C.E could helped to motivate students & increase moral within the program.

Financial aid (that does not carry interest) may offer a source of stress relief for students struggling with the cost of their education.

The idea that early childhood education is a valued profession that deserves recognition in Canadian society will likely be reinforced by the addition of such awards for the program.

In order to create passionate and motivated advocates for the field, the college must support students and recognize their abilities instead of only awarded student’s entering the program from high school or with bursaries available to every student, i.e. book bursary.

The Global ConnectionWhat is the global impact of THIS cause?/ Is there one?

YES!

The more that Canada and it’s educational institutions can exhibit support/respect for the profession of early childhood education, other sectors of society will likely follow suit.

If Centennial students are given the encouragement and appropriate support (Financial/otherwise) prior to entering the field as professionals, there is a better chance of them pursuing international opportunities that compliment Centennial College’s signature learning experience of GNED500.

Happier education professionals who feel appreciated will naturally become stronger advocates for early learning opportunities at home & beyond their own borders.

Research QuestionsWhat did we need to consider for this Cause?

Who will benefit from the possibility of newly created awards?

What aid is currently available to the students of early childhood education at Centennial College?

Who is eligible for existing non-specific financial awards& where are the majority of specific awards delegated to? –Who controls this distribution?

What do other Ontario Colleges have to offer E.C.E students?

What is the average debt load/superfluous financial burden for students studying early childhood education?

Who do we contact/who are potential donors of financial awards?

The Investigation Process…How we found out the Facts & found our Stakeholder

We researched 8 different colleges in Ontario (Including Centennial College) & compared their tuition and the number of awards/bursaries available to students studying E.C.E.

We contacted Sue Wells to ask if there would be a replacement award for next year’s Student’s Award Night 2011 to fill the hole left by the Lynn Coombs award of $500.

We surveyed E.C.E students in order to assess financial needs/ desire or awards & bursaries.

We spoke with several possible stakeholders about the possibility of becoming financial donors for awards granted to E.C.E students.

We also spoke with many students about their opinions on the matter.

What we Discovered…College Tuition Awards Bursaries Centennial $3,544.16 first year 

$3,478.16 second yearNo Awards specific for Early Childhood Education

No Bursaries specific for Early Childhood Education

Seneca $2,838.84/per 2 semesters No Awards specific for Early Childhood Education

North York Inter Agency and Community Council Award-$200

Patricia M. Hughes Bursary-TBAThe Carol. L Paasche ECE Bursary-TBAAnne Elikin Memorial Award: $100 

Algonquin $2,320.00 first year$2,308.80 second year

Children’s Garden Nursery School Literary AwardRenfrew County Early Childhood Education ProgramDirectors AwardWise Owl Day Care Award

Betty Hyde Early Childhood Education Bursary-TBASusan Meyer’s BursaryWest End Nursery School Award

Fanshawe $3,225.82 first year$3,214.56 second year

E.C.E Year II Spirit AwardE.C.E Year I Spirit AwardE.C.E Year II Faculty AwardE.C.E Year I Faculty AwardChild Care Advisory Committee Award

No Bursaries specific to Early Childhood Education

George Brown $3211.00 per semester Rachel Langford Special Needs AwardMentoring Award EventDouglas E. Light AwardNoel Young Award

Aune Koivula Scolarship-$2,000Early Childhood Education Qualifications Upgrade Program-$2,500-$5,200P.A.C.E Bursaries-$500-$1,000

Sheridan $2,420.00 first year$2,412.00 second year

Barbara Klechoitzki Early Childhood education AwardAECEO, PeelAECEO, HaltonChild Development Resource Connection, PeelJune Sheepway AwardHigh/Scope AwardsSuzanne Coles Memorial AwardsDavis Campus Early Childhood Centre-Commemorative AwardAndrew Love Award

Kathryn Dale Northway Scholarship

Durham $,3,285 per semester No specific awards for Early Childhood Education

No specific bursaries for Early Childhood Education

What we Discovered…According to our Program Chair, Sue Wells…

When Asked: “Will there be an award to replace the Ernie & Lynne Coombs award at Awards Night 2011?”

She said:

“At this time, there is not a new award set in place for Awards

Night 2011.”

What we Discovered…The Distribution of Awards/Bursaries at Centennial College

We broke down the financial and non-financial awards distributed throughout the College by various donors into the following categories:

Awards Night: 153 in Total

2 out of 153 awards presented at Awards Night is delegated specifically to E.C.E Students at Centennial College. 1 of these 2

awards, no longer exists & there are no immediate plans to replace it.

Convocation Awards: 9 in Total

Although there is one award for our school of study at convocation, there is currently no award specifically granted to an E.C.E

student at Centennial College.

*Please Note that we are aware of the newly created E.C.E recognition award – It is NOT financial*

*All award information was taken from 2010 Awards Night Program**

Distribution of Awards To narrow These Numbers down, we decided to find out how the

22 School of Community & Health studies awards granted on Award’s Night go to each Program in the school:

Child Studies: 3:

Community Studies: 3

Health & Wellness: 10

Nursing: 6

*All information taken from Awards Night 2010**

Child Studies

Community Studies

Health & Well

Nursing

Other

The School of Health & Community Studies Awards

How we Took Action!What we decided to do based on the information we were

able to gather through various means.

Our group decided that after a long search for possible donors to our cause, that we (the E.C.E Students) might be the best source for fund-raising initiatives.

Upon this decision, we decided to speak with first year E.C.E classes in order to assess the level of interest that would be present in this cause once we graduate.

We are right NOW in the process of submitting a formal application for the formation of a certified Centennial College. This Club would consist of the 25 E.C.E Students (8 exec) E.C.E students who would continue fundraising for a student generated award/scholarship for E.C.E students next fall.

Evidence of ACTION…

Evidence Continued… According the to survey that our group created,

distributed and collected on April 6th2011:

The overwhelming Majority of the E.C.E students surveyed said the following:

1. They would benefit from the creation of a new award, bursary and or scholarship directed toward our program.

2. If they have taken out a loan it will take at least 3 years to pay the loan off, working as an E.C.E in Ontario.

3. If a new form of financial aid was introduced for E.C.E students, they would have less stress when it comes to paying for their education.

RESULTS! We have gathered the support and commitment

from 25 first year Centennial College early childhood education students who will work to form a club that is recognized by CCSAI (Student Alliance). When the club is formed, they will receive $500.00 toward the fund!

We effectively raised $175.00 at our bake sale to be put toward the student award fund that is being raised by the club.

Throughout the bake sale, we raised awareness among other departments of the college about the lack of financial aid specifically allocated for E.C.E students.

The Club Members

Our Advocacy Journey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLbu4WBAgBs

Please Enjoy our Short Animoto!

THANK YOU!!You have been a Spectacular Audience today

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je vous remercie pour regarder

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WORKS CITED The following websites have all been consulted

throughout the creation of this advocacy project.

http://www.centennialcollege.ca/scholarships

http://www.durhamcollege.ca/EN/main/financial_info/scholarships_bursaries.php

http://www.senecac.on.ca/students/index.html

http://www.algonquincollege.com/financialaid/scholarships_health_comm_studies.html

http://www.sheridaninstitute.ca/services/student%20support%20services/fees%20and%20financial%20aid/academic%20awards%20and%20scholarships.aspx

http://www.georgebrown.ca/Marketing/FTCal-Jan/financial.aspx#maincontent

http://www.fanshawec.ca/EN/money/default.asp

WORKS CITED All Photos & or clipart was borrowed from the

following:

http://www.veer.com/

http://www.morguefile.com/

**All original photos & video were obtained by Brandi Berylene Reader.

How Active is your Listening?

1. How many awards are there at Awards

Night for E.C.E students currently?

How Active is your Listening?

2. How many first years have

signed up for the E.C.E club?

How Active is your Listening?

3. What is the second most expensive

college for E.C.E in Ontario that we spoke about?

How Active is your Listening?

4.How much money was raised at the bake sale

on April 6th?

How Active is your Listening?

5. How long did the average CC student say it would take to pay off their loan?

How Active is your Listening?

6. How does more funding for E.C.E students relate to

the global community?

THANK YOU FOR PLAYING!

Enjoy Your Prizes!!